Rotary oil burners



y 1958 J. J. MGGILLIS ETAL 2,836,231

ROTARY OIL BURNERS Filed April 12, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1958 J. J. MCGILLIS ET AL 2,836,231

ROTARY OIL BURNERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1956 m m. N

United This invention relates to improvements in rotary type oil burners. It relates more particularly to improvements in rotary oil burners of the general variety disclosed in our Patent No. 2,738,837, granted March 20, 1956, wherein vaporization of oil is accomplished in a chamber within the burner head from which air is excluded, the vaporized oil undiluted by air, delivering annularly from the head into intersecting air streams which eifect further atomization of the oil and supply oxygen for combustion of the oil. Reference also is made to our copending applications Serial No. 433,486, filed June 1, 1954, and Serial No. 483,970, filed Jan. 25, 1955, wherein certain improvements upon the invention of our said patent are disclosed and claimed. The present invention improves upon our said patented disclosure and the disclosures of our said two copending applications by providing for more efficient utilization and control and mixing of cold and warm air to attain improved combustion efficiency.

Oil burners of the general type to which the invention relates customarily have a rotary head comprisin a pair of opposed dished plates or disks fixed in spaced relation on the upper end of a vertically disposed hollow shaft through which oil delivers between the plates or disks. The oil is vaporized and atomized between the plates and discharged centrifugally around the periphery of the rotating burner head. In our said prior patent and copending applications, the vaporization and atomization of oil which takes place between the dished plates or disks is accomplished without any air being admitted to the space between the plates or disks, and the discharging oil is substantially undiluted by air, and the air for com-' bastion is supplied by intersecting streams of air at the combustion region which streams of air also further atomize the. oil. Our said copending application Serial No. 433,486 discloses means for controlled mixing of incoming cold air and heated air drawn from the combustion chamber whereby the intersecting air streams at the combustion region may be controlled as to the temperature of the air.

It is among the objects of our present invention to substantially increase the combustion efliciency, and the sensitivity of control, of rotary oil burners of the mentioned general variety by providing a combination of rotary burner head elements whereby atomized and/or vaporized oil, undiluted by air, is discharged in a horizontal stream annularly around the head, and air is propelled from the head in streams which provide two annular regions of intersection of air streams at difierent radial distances outward from the axis of the head, the discharging oil being'subjected to the action of the intersecting air streams in succession.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination of rotary burner head elements whereby oil undiluted by air is discharged annularly around the head and is subjected to the atomizing effects of intersect ing annular air streams in succession at radially dilterent hater 2 locations outward from the axis of the head, the said combination of elements including means for inducing inflow of relatively cold air, and relatively high temperature air from the combustion chamber, to, through and around elements of the head for providing the said in tersecting streams of air, with provision for regulation of the volume of incoming air and of the proportions of relatively cold andrelatively high temperature air in the said intersecting streams of air.

It is, moreover, our purpose and object generally to improve the structure and operative efliciency of rotary oil burners, and especially such burners in which atomized and/or vaporized oil is discharged from the burner head substantially undiluted by air.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view, with some parts in elevation, of a rotary oil burner embodying features of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view, on line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view with the burner shaft in cross-section, on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a rotary oil burner head, indicated generally at 10, may be supported in a conventional manner by legs or posts 12 which also may support an electric motor 14 with means (not shown) for adjustmentof the motor vertically in general parallelism with the legs. Usually, the legs 12 also include provision for adjustment of their lengths to facilitate proper positioning of the head 10 with its axis vertical even though a floor or other support maybe uneven.

A generally horizontally disposed platform 16 is fixed on the upper ends of legs 12 and has a relatively large central opening 18 within which an annular sleeve 20 is vertically adjustable by means of an adjusting screw 22; The screw 22' is rotatably fixed on platform 16 with its threaded shank extending through and engaging threads in projecting ear 24 on sleeve 20. An upstanding fiangeportion 26 on platform 16 closely surrounds sleeve 20 for guiding the sleeve and restraining it against vibration in each of its positions of vertical adjustment. Flange portion 26 has-an annular enlargement 28 which hollow at 34) for accommodating the screw 22 an car 24.

Refractory elements 32 of aheater ordinarily rest on platform 16 outward of and all around the annular enlar ement 28 of flange portion 26.

Motor 14- has a vertically disposed shaft 34 of conventional hollow form, and oil from any suitable source is conducted upwardly through the shaft to the burner head it) which is shown fixed on an extension of the shaft 34 for rotation with the shaft when motor 14 is running.

As represented in Fig. l, the hollow motor shaft 34 has its upper end connected at 36 to a hollow extension 38'on the upper end of which are rigidly secured the elements of the rotary burner head 10. Extension 38 has the cylindrical enlargement lt) thereon, and has one threaded portion 42 below the head 10 and another threaded portion 44, of reduced diameter, at the upper end of extension 33.

Two dished annular plates 46, 48 are clamped rigidly to extension 38 with their dished or concave sides toward each other and with their peripheral lips spaced slightly apart. Upper plate 46 has a central hole for receiving the upper threaded end portion 44- of extension 38 and is clamped against the shoulder at the upper side of enlargement illby means of nut 50, with a third dished plate 52 and spacing collar 54 intervening between the plate 46 and nut 50.

The dished plate 48 which is below plate 46 has a central openingwhereby it may be arranged on extension 38 of the motor shaft before the lower end of the extension is connected at 36 to the motor shaft, and this plate 48 may he slid along extension 38 into engagement with'the shoulder at the "lower end of enlargement 40 and clamped against the shoulder when nut 56 is tightened onthe'threaded portion 42 of the extension 38.

'Before clamping the plates 46, 48 to extension 38, by tightening of nuts 50, 56, a series of short'rigid tubes 58 are loosely assembled in spaced positions to extend generally'in vertical directions across the space between the plates 46, 48. The opposite ends of the tubes may be exteriorly tapered for entering plate holes 60 which are slightly smaller in diameter than the exterior diameter of the tubes. Hence, when plates 46, 48 are clamped to extension 38, by tightening nuts 50, 56, the tapered tube ends become gripped by the walls of plate holes 60 and the tubes effectively plug the holes against passage of air between the exterior surfaces of the tubes and the walls of plate holes 60. But, the tubes 58 provide substantial air passages extending vertically across the space I between the dished plates 46, '48, with none of this air having access to the space between the plates 46, 4 8.

Thehollow or bore of extension 38 extends into and terminates within the enlargement 40, as at 41,,and a series of relatively small diameter passages 62 extend and more viscous oils, 'such as No. 6 fuel oil, for example.

Inasmuch as the plates 46, 48 are rigid on the relatively high speed rotating burner head, oil delivering into the space between plates 46, 48 is carried outward on and between the plates by centrifugaliorce, with substantial vaporization and/or atomization of. the oil being accomplished between the plates 46,. 48 while air is excluded fromthe space between the plates. Hence,

1 vaporized and/or atomized oil substantially undiluted by air discharges from the slightly spaced peripheral lips of the plates approximately in a horizontal plane with a1further atomizingeffect resulting from the centrifugal discharge of the oil into space annularly around the rotating head.

' The structure asso far described is We have 1 found, however, that the efliciency. and

sensitivity of control, as compared with our said prior disclosures, may be substantially increased by the improvements now to be described' Fan blades 64, 66 are provided on exterior peripheral" portions of the dished plates 46, .48, respectively, they 7 generally similar 7 to the comparable structures, as disclosed in our said patent and .co-pending applications.

' meat 40 of extension38.. Plate 68 has one annular aiding the upward travel of oil and especially the heavier being shown secured, respectively, at 65, 67, with the,

blades relatively'close 'to the inclined margins of the plates. t

The previously mentioned third dished plate 52, above the dished plate 46, has diameter substantiallylarger than plates 46, 48 and has its outer marginal portion inclined outwardly and downwardlyat 53.; The fan blades 64 are located betweenplates 46 and 52.

" .A fourth dished plate 68.,is mounted on the burner head below dished plate 48 and it-has diameter substantially the same as plate 52, with its outer marginal portion; inclined'outwardly and upwardly at 69. As 7 shown, vplate 68 has a central opening through which the exteriorly threaded portion 42 of extension 38 .7 loosely extends, with a spacing collar70lloos'e on the" extension and, intervening between plates 48 and-68 'and with nut 56 in position to clamp plates 48, 68 andcollar 78 together and a gainst the undershoulder of the enlargeseries of holes 72 therein, each hole being generally opposite one of the vertical tubes 58. Another annular series of smaller holes 74 in plate 68 are outward from the holes 72.

The adjustable sleeve 20, below the burner head, has a cover element 76 on its upper end obstructing a substantial outer annular portion of the upper end of the sleeve but having a central. opening at 78 defined by the upstanding flange 79j Flange 79 is located under the portion of plate 68 which intervenes between the two series of holes 72, 74, and moves toward'or from plate 68 when sleeve 20 is adjusted by means of screw 22.

When the burner head rotates at relatively high speed, the fan blades 64, 66 induce air circulation by drawing cold or relatively cold air into the lower end of sleeve 20 through the manually operable shutter-type valve means 80. Shutter elements 81 of the valvemeans are manually operable by handle 82 for selectively increasing the size of the air inlet passage through .the valve means. The fan blades also induce .flow tothe burner head of warm or hot air and products of com bustion from the combustion chamber of the heater with 79 and into the cold air which is being drawn upwardly through theplate holes 72 and tubes 58 under the in-' 'fluenceof the upper fan blades 64. Also, someof the cold air may be drawn outwardly over flange 79 and into plate holes 74, and some of the predominantly cold air passing upward through plate holes 72 isdrawnout: wardly between plates 48, 68 and into the'predomin-antly warm air passing upwardly through plate holes, 74.

Hence, a mixture of cold and warm air is drawn -out-' wardly between plates .48, 68 by the lower fanblades 66, and this air is propelled outwardly and upwardly across the horizontal plane of discharge of-pil from the burner head.

The major portion of the predominantly cold passingupward through plate holes 72 passesthrough the tubes 58 to the space'betwee'n plates 46, 52, cooling the burnerhead' and itself becoming heated prior to being propelled outwardly and downwardly across the horizontal plane of discharge of oil from the burner head.

It is a feature of importance that the plates 52,f 68v are substantially larger in diameter than the plates 46, 48, and that the inclined margins of the largerplates are located and adapted to direct propelled ,air in streams V which intersect each other outside the peripheries of the plates, Other substantial volumes of the propelled in the near vicinity of the fan blades, are driven more directly in streams which intersect each other appreciably inward from the region of intersection of the first men-I However, both regions of intertioned air streams. section of air streams are inthe general plane of horizontal discharge of oil from the burner head and the atomized and/or vaporized oil, substantially undiluted by air, is subjected to the action of'the intersecting streams of air at the inner region of intersectiomrepresented by the arrows-at A, and the air in the streams which intersect at the'arrowsB will have atomizedand/ or vaporized oil mingled therewith in condition to be further atomized and thoroughly mixed with air at the region B.

The regions of intersection at A and B extend annularly all around the burner head, and any suitable ignition means may be provided, adjacentthe region l3, for ignit;

ing the fuel mixture.

The herein described treatment of the discharging oil, by subjecting it to the action of intersecting streams of air in succession at radii-Ely different locations substantially improves the combustion efliciency as compared with prior comparable rotary burner structures and procedures, especially with the herein disclosed means for greater sensitivity of control and regulation of the air volumes and the relative proportions of cold and warm air introduced into the burner head.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a rotary oil burner, a rotary burner head comprising a pair of circular dished plate elements secured together with their dished sides toward each other and providing an atomizing chamber between them, and with their peripheral edges spaced apart, a pair of substantially larger diameter dished plate elements secured to the first mentioned plate elements for rotation therewith, one of said larger diameter plate elements being spaced above and the other spaced below said first mentioned pair of plate elements, all of said plate elements being concentric on a common axis of rotation of the burner head, means for supplying oil into the space between the plate elements of said first mentioned pair of plate elements whereby said supplied oil moves outwardly and becomes atomized between the plates and discharged annularly from between the plates as a result of centrifugal force, means operably associated with said plate elements for inducing inflow of air to the spaces between the plate elements of said first mentioned pair of plate elements and said larger diameter plate elements, and for propelling substantial volumes of said air in annular streams which intersect each other between said larger diameter plate elements, said larger diameter plate elements having marginal portions for directing substantial volumes of said air in annular streams which intersect each other radially outward of the peripheral edges of said larger diameter plate elements, said intersecting air streams having their regions of intersection generally in the plane of dischar e of said oil whereby the discharging oil is subjected to the action of said intersecting streams while passing between and again when outside of said larger diameter plate elements.

2. In a rotary oil burner having a rotary head for discharging oil, undiluted by air, annularly around the head, substantially in a horizontal plane, said head including spaced generally circular elements having their peripheral edges at a fixed radial distance outward from the axis of the head, and said oil being discharged from between said elements at the said peripheral edges thereof, the combination therewith of upper and lower air propelling means fixed on said head for inducing radially outward flow of air at an upper region and at a lower region of said head, means defining passages for entrance of air to said upper and lower regions of the head, said propelling means being arranged and adapted to propel substantial volumes of said outwardly flowing air in annular streams which intersect each other and said horizontal plane relatively close to said peripheral edges of said elements, and generally circular upper and lower air guiding and air directing elements on said head having diameter substantially greater than that of the first mentioned elements whereby the said intersection of air streams occurs between said larger diameter elements, said larger diameter elements having peripheral margins disposed for directing substantial volumes of said air in annular streams which intersect each other and said horizontal plane radially outward of the peripheral edges of said larger diameter elements.

3. In a rotary oil burner having a rotary head providing a substantially air-tight atomizing chamber with an annular peripheral outlet for discharge of oil, undiluted by air, generally in a horizontal plane, and having air conduits for conducting air from a region at the under side of the head to a region at the upper side of the head, the combination therewith of upper and lower air propelling means on the head for inducing air flow through said conduits and radially outward at said regions at the under side and upper side of the head, said air propelling means being arranged and adapted to propel substantial volumes of said outwardly flowing air in an nular streams which intersect each other and said horizontal plane relatively close to said peripheral outlet, upper and lower plate elements connected to said head and spaced from the adjacent walls of said chamber and having extent outwardly substantially beyond said peripheral outlet whereby said intersection of air streams occurs between said plate elements, said plate elements having inclined marginal portions arranged and adapted to direct substantial volumes of said outwardly flowing air in streams which intersect each other and said horizontal plane outward of the peripheral edges of said plate elements, means coacting with said lower plate element to provide a passage for flow of warm air to the under side of said lower plate element, and means providing a passage for flow of cold air to the under side of said lower plate element, said lower plate element having air passages therein at difterent radial distances outward from the burner head axis, and adjustable means for controlling said cold air passage thereby to control the relative proportions of relatively cold and relatively warm air entering said plate element passages at said radially different distances from said axis.

4. A rotary oil burner comprising a head having a pair of plate elements defining an oil atomizing chamber, from which oil discharges peripherally in a horizontal plane, and a pair of air directing plate elements of which one is spaced above and the other is spaced below said chamber, means defining passages for entrance of air between said chamber and said air directing plate elements both above and below said chamber, upper and lower air propelling zeans on the head for inducing air fiow radially outward between said chamber and each of said air directing plate elements and arranged and adapted to propel substantial volumes of said outwardly flowing air in streams which intersect each other and said hori- Zontal plane relatively close to the peripheral edges of the first mentioned plate element, said air directing plate elements having diameter substantially greater than that of the first mentioned plate elements whereby said intersection of air streams occurs between said air directing plate elements, and said air directing plate elements having annular inclined marginal portions arranged and adapted to direct substantial volumes of said outwardly flowing air in streams which intersect each other and said horizontal plane radially outward of the peripheral edges of said air directing plate elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,569,580 Scheminger Ian. 12, 1926 1,674,631 Benniger June 26, 1928 2,030,123 Tifiany Feb. 11, 1936 2,507,006 Hammell May 9, 1950 2,738,837 McGillis Mar. 20, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 104,246 Great Britain Mar. 1, 1917 

